After key awards at April’s Malaga Spanish Film Festival, the first option was a traditional release, via an 80-screen bow with a $250,000-$375,000 P&A investment. But Spain’s ever-softer theatrical market dissuaded producers.

A multiplatform film opening offered more business opportunities, though it barred “Carmina” from accessing public subsidies for skipping the traditional four-month theatrical window exclusivity for Spanish pics.

If conservative in investment, producers were bold in essaying alternative distribution. La Luna de Tantan bowed the pic July 5 on 20 screens, many in small Spanish cities. Indie portal Filmin negotiated VOD rights with a dozen VOD services, including seven Internet sites such as iTunes, Google Play, PSN and Mitele. Filmin parent company Cameo managed DVD sales. Paco Leon, a star on Spanish primetime TV, worked his 630,000 Twitter followers.

“Carmina’s” simultaneous launch “helped to cash in on our promotional efforts better,” Alonso says. Through Aug. 31 the pic punched 48,000 VOD buys at $2.44, a minimum price, during the first two weeks. It also grossed $121,981 at the B.O., but main returns came from DVD, with a standout 68,000 units sold at $7.50, half the going rate.

“The challenge was to show it on the Internet in a comfortable and affordable way to many people who don’t use it to consume movies legally,” says Filmin CEO Juan Carlos Tous.

A pay TV sale to Canal Plus at between $37,500 and $62,000 rounded out “Carmina’s” revenues, allowing investors to go into the black.

“Carmina” also established Leon as a promising comedy director.

In a country known as Europe’s piracy haven, immediate accessibility and low-pricing minimized unauthorized downloads, Tous says.

On top of it all, “Carmina” is an event movie that allowed Spain’s legal online portals to win visibility in a slow-growth market.

After initial optimism, Spain’s industry fears that its anti-piracy law, up-and-running from March, may become a paper tiger lacking public resources to effectively enforce the new regs.